Crate for Holding and Displaying Products

ABSTRACT

A crate includes a floor, a ceiling, a left wall, a right wall and a rear wall. Each of the walls includes a first end coupled to the floor and each of the walls includes a second end coupled to the ceiling. A front wall is hinged to one of the left wall and the right wall so as to swing. A product is hinged to and provided within the front wall.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to crates for holding and displaying products.

2. Description of Related Art

Consumer goods and products are commonly shipped to different locations via crates. For example, a distributor will receive product crates from a manufacturer for retail outlets. Certain retail stores, such as home improvement and wholesale stores, often leave the products in the crates and remove the products only as they are selected for purchase by consumers.

Product displays are a common method of encouraging sales. A large product, such as a storm door, is typically displayed in a hardware store by mounting or bolting the storm door to a large metal shelving unit to allow consumers to view and interact with an assembled sample model outside the crate. However, such a display requires the product to be assembled and mounted to a display mount, which can be time-consuming and expensive to build. The conventional display also reduces the shelf space available to that product and other products.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention overcomes these drawbacks and provides a crate for a plurality of products to be transported and displayed for sale. In a preferred embodiment, storm doors are packaged in the crate and a storm door is displayed in the front side wall. The displayed storm door is swingable on the crate. The present invention is not limited to storms doors packaged in a crate. For example, the invention is applicable to windows and other types of doors.

One embodiment of the invention is a crate including a floor, a ceiling, a left wall, a right wall and a rear wall. Each of the walls includes a first end coupled to the floor and each of the walls includes a second end coupled to the ceiling. A front wall is hinged to one of the left wall and the right wall so as to swing. A product is hinged to and provided within the front wall. The floor, the ceiling, the left wall, the right wall, the rear wall and the front wall form an enclosed crate. The product and the front wall swing independently. The product is selected from the group consisting of a storm door, a wood door, a steel door, a screen door and a window. The width of the front wall is greater than the width of the product. The product is hinged on the same side as the front wall hinge. The floor and the ceiling include a plurality of parallel slats. A plurality of packaged products are positioned between corresponding pairs of parallel slats. A locking mechanism is provided on the wall opposite the wall hinged to the front wall.

Another embodiment of the invention is a crate storage and display system including a floor, a ceiling, a left wall, a right wall and a rear wall. Each of the walls includes a first end coupled to the floor and each of the walls includes a second end coupled to the ceiling to form a crate. A front wall is hinged to one of the left wall and the right wall. A product is hinged to and provided within the front wall for display of the product. A plurality of packaged products are stored in the crate.

Another embodiment of the invention is a crate storage and display method including the steps of storing a plurality of packaged products in a crate. The crate includes a floor, a ceiling, a left wall, a right wall and a rear wall. Each of the walls includes a first end coupled to the floor and each of the walls includes a second end coupled to the ceiling. A front wall is hinged to one of the left wall and the right wall. A product is hinged to and provided within the front wall. The crate is transported. The product is swung about the front wall. One of the packaged products is removed from the crate. The front wall is swung about the hinged wall of the crate. The crate and product for sale are displayed. The crate is transported by a forklift. The plurality of packaged products are inserted into the crate. The front wall is secured to the crate with a lock. Product information is placed on the front wall. The product is selected from the group consisting of a storm door, a wood door, a steel door, a screen door and a window. The product and the front wall swing independently.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, various features of embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an open and closed crate according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a closed crate according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is another front view of a closed crate.

FIG. 4 is a front view of an open crate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment of a crate according to the present invention includes a swing door 18 and a product 20 within the swing door 18 as illustrated in FIG. 1. A crate 10 includes a floor 12, ceiling 16 and three side walls 14 (left-side wall, right-side wall and rear wall) that forms an enclosed space with an opening on a front side of the crate 10. The crate holds and protects a plurality of products 22 during transport from one location to another, such as from a distribution point to a retail store. The floor 12 preferably includes a clearance with the surface upon which the crate 10 is placed sufficient for a forklift or pallet jack to reach underneath crate 10 to lift and transport the crate 10 from any side (FIG. 3). In a preferred embodiment, the crate has a height of 2.419 meters, a width of 1.178 meters and a depth of 1.0 meters.

A front wall 18, such as a swing door, is connected to crate 10 and covers the front side opening of crate 10 when swung closed. The swing door 18 is mounted and hinged to the crate 10 on the left-side or right-side of the front opening and provides access to the products 22 stored in the crate 10. The swing door 18 can be hinged on a left-side wall or right-side wall using a pair of mounting brackets. The mounting brackets provided on one side wall 14 of the crate 10 allows swinging between open and closed positions. Optionally, a lock or latch is provided opposite the front wall hinge to prevent the swing door 18 from opening undesirably. The invention is not limited to a particular lock or latch mechanism.

Product 20 is mounted within the swing door 18 and swings with the swing door 18 as the swing door 18 is opened and closed. As best seen in FIG. 4, product 20 is placed and fits within the frame of swing door 18. The length and width of product 20 is preferably less than that of the swing door 18. In FIG. 1, product 20 is a storm door, but it should be understood that the present invention is not limited to storm door products and encompasses other door types such as wood, steel or screen doors, as well as other products, such as windows.

If the product 20 is implemented, for example, as a storm door, it can be mounted within the swing door 18 in the same manner that a storm door 20 would be mounted in a home. With this mounting, the storm door 20 can be opened and closed independently from the swing door 18. For example, with the swing door 18 in a closed position, a consumer in front of the crate 10 can open storm door 20 without opening the swing door 18. The consumer can also explore the product in detail by, for example, adjusting the retractable screen, window, or other details of storm door 20 from either the open or closed position. Thus, product 20 acts as an interactive sample model display attached to crate 10.

In addition to displaying a product 20, crate 10 also stores a plurality of products 22 available for purchase. The stored plurality of products 22 are boxed or otherwise configured for removal and purchase by a consumer. In a preferred embodiment, the products 22 are boxed storm doors. Once a consumer has made a decision to purchase the product 20 shown, the consumer simply opens the swing door 18 and removes one of the packaged products 22 stored within crate 10 (FIG. 1). If a consumer were to attempt to remove a packaged product 22 when the swing door 18 is closed and storm door 20 is open, the removal of the packaged product 22 would be halted by the frame of swing door 18.

The crate 10, including the attached swing door 18, provides display for a product 20 on sale, such as a storm door, without having to build or provide a product display area separate from crate 10. The product display is pre-built before arrival at a retail store, and the packaged volume of products 22 can be left in the crate 10 for easy browsing and removal by consumers. Simultaneously, crate 10 provides an efficient structure for a volume of packaged products 22 to be shipped and stored before selling. Crate 10 is especially useful for stores with less space or manpower. Instead of the traditional requirement of separate spaces for the storage of a crate, a space for the packaged product 22 placed on store shelves and a space for a sample product display, crate 10 fulfills the function of all three at once. Therefore, a store can quickly receive and place the crate in a retail space for immediate purchase with a minimum of effort. Furthermore, crate 10 can be reused since packaged products 22 from other crates can be used to replenish the supply of packaged products 22 of crate 10 once the originally transported products 22 are removed.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 1, ceiling 16 includes a series of substantially parallel slats 26. Floor 12 includes a corresponding series of substantially parallel slats 24 (not shown). Each slat 24 is preferably positioned in substantially the same vertical plane as a corresponding slat 26. The space between each pair of slats 24 and 26 is preferably sufficient for the insertion and removal of a packaged product 22 between them. In this manner, slats 24 and 26 form slots in which to place and hold a plurality of packaged products 22 between them, thereby minimizing the movement of the packaged storm doors 22 within crate 10 and reducing any pressure that a packaged product 22 may place on one another. This feature also makes the removal of a packaged storm door 22 from crate 10 easier.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the crate 10 with the attached swing door 18 and storm door 20 in a closed position. As shown in FIG. 2, swing door 18 is wider than storm door 20. As viewed from the front, if the right edge of storm door 20 is aligned with the right edge of swing door 18, then an empty area 28 is provided on the left edge of the swing door 18. The empty area 28 can be used to place advertising or other product information related to the product 20 directly on the swing door 18. Information can also be placed on the product 20 itself. FIG. 3 is another front view of the crate 10 with an attached swing door 18 and storm door 20 in a closed position. FIG. 4 is a front view of the crate 10 with attached swing door 18 in an open position and storm door 22 in a closed position within the swing door 18. In this position, the consumer can examine a rear portion of product 20 and can easily remove packaged product 22 from crate 10.

Although preferably used for storage and display of storm doors, the system can also be used for any kind of door, such as wood, steel or screen doors. The system can also be used for other products, such as windows.

The particular embodiments of the invention described in this document should be considered illustrative, rather than restrictive. Modification to the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined by the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A crate, comprising: a floor; a ceiling; a left wall, a right wall and a rear wall, wherein each of the walls includes a first end coupled to the floor and each of the walls includes a second end coupled to the ceiling; a front wall is hinged to one of the left wall and the right wall so as to swing; a product is hinged to and provided within the front wall.
 2. The crate of claim 1, wherein the floor, the ceiling, the left wall, the right wall, the rear wall and the front wall form an enclosed crate.
 3. The crate of claim 1, wherein the product and the front wall swing independently.
 4. The crate of claim 1, wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of a storm door, a wood door, a steel door, a screen door and a window.
 5. The crate of claim 1, wherein the width of the front wall is greater than the width of the product.
 6. The crate of claim 1, wherein the product is hinged on the same side as the front wall hinge.
 7. The crate of claim 1, wherein the floor and the ceiling include a plurality of parallel slats.
 8. The crate of claim 7, further comprising: a plurality of packaged products positioned between corresponding pairs of parallel slats.
 9. The crate of claim 1, further comprising: a locking mechanism on the wall opposite the wall hinged to the front wall.
 10. A crate storage and display system, comprising: a floor; a ceiling; a left wall, a right wall and a rear wall, wherein each of the walls includes a first end coupled to the floor and each of the walls includes a second end coupled to the ceiling to form a crate; a front wall is hinged to one of the left wall and the right wall; a product is hinged to and provided within the front wall for display of the product; a plurality of packaged products stored in the crate.
 11. A crate storage and display method, comprising the steps of: storing a plurality of packaged products in a crate, the crate comprising: a floor; a ceiling; a left wall, a right wall and a rear wall, wherein each of the walls includes a first end coupled to the floor and each of the walls includes a second end coupled to the ceiling; a front wall hinged to one of the left wall and the right wall; and a product hinged to and provided within the front wall; transporting the crate; swinging the product about the front wall.
 12. The crate storage and display method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: removing one of the packaged products from the crate.
 13. The crate storage and display method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: swinging the front wall about the hinged wall of the crate.
 14. The crate storage and display method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: displaying the crate and the product for sale.
 15. The crate storage and display method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: transporting the crate by a forklift.
 16. The crate storage and display method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: inserting the plurality of packaged products into the crate.
 17. The crate storage and display method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: securing the front wall to the crate with a lock.
 18. The crate storage and display method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: placing product information on the front wall.
 19. The crate storage and display method of claim 11, wherein the product is selected from the group consisting of a storm door, a wood door, a steel door, a screen door and a window.
 20. The crate storage and display method of claim 11, wherein the product and the front wall swing independently. 